=bWceh_p_d] j[[d fh[]dWdYo - Teens in Print

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Sadness, helplessness, loneliness, anddespair are different stages of the samecondition: depression. Teenage depressionis not just bad moods and occasionalsadness; it is a serious problem that impacts everyaspect of a teen’s life. How many parents knowabout their teen’s feelings? How many teachersthink about their students being depressed? Howmany teens know that depression is what is causingthem to feel sad, bad, and sometimes mad?Depression is common among teens, but it’s oftennot spoken about. Depression is a silent killer thatmany teens fight and hide from. Left untreated,teen depression can lead to problems at home andschool, drug abuse, self-loathing, even homicidalviolence or suicide.Teen suicide is the third leading cause of deathamong young people ages 15-24, according toteendepression.org. Studies and statistics showthat approximately one in eight adolescents may besuffering from depression. Even more frighteningis that only about 30 percent of them are receivingtreatment, according to the website.Depression affects people of every color, race,and economic status; however, it does seem toaffect more girls than guys. According to the KeltyFoundation, about 5 to 10 percent of women and2 to 5 percent of men will experience at least onemajor depressive episode during their adult lives.It can be hard for adults to remember how it feltto be a teen, caught between childhood and adulthood.It can be a period of great confusion and anxiety.There is pressure to fit in socially, to performacademically, and to act responsibly. So, teenagersneed some kind of support at home from parents tohelp them get through rough times.Parents are working harder than ever to makesure their children have everything they need. Butin the meantime, teens’ feelings may be suffering.The Kelty Foundation revealed that nine out of tensuicides take place in the home.The signs of depression are not always knownjust by looking at a teen; that’s why parents need towatch and listen. Parents need to keep communicationopen and express concern, support, and love.Another thing parents can do is ask questions.After they’ve watched and listened to the teen, theymight want to have some questions answered. It’s agood idea to ask, even though doing so can be difficult.If a teen doesn’t feel comfortable talking withhis or her parents, parents need to suggest a moreneutral person, such as another relative, clergymember, coach, counselor, or the child’s doctor. Ifa teen confides in a parent, mom or dad must showshe or he takes those concerns seriously.Teachers must be watchful for depression in theirstudents as well. They should let students knowthey care, without getting too personal. Teacherscan create a comfortable, safe classroom where thestudent doesn’t feel he or she has a time limit tosuddenly cheer up. They can help students catch upon any missing assignments, or set up extra studytime. Whether they accept these efforts or notdepends upon the severity of the depression. Thefact that a teacher has proven they care can make adifference. Also, teachers should not give up on thestudent regardless of how long they haven’t wantedto put forth any effort in the class. Students cantell when a teacher no longer believes in them andexpects them to fail, and it only ends up making thesituation worse.If teens have good relationships with their teachers,they will go to them for advice. They will talkto them not only as a teacher, but also as an adultfriend they can count on when they are facing difficultiesadapting to adulthood. Often, teens don’tlike to share their emotions and many don’t trustadults. They often choose to talk to a friend insteadof their parents. But that doesn’t mean they don’tneed and want their help. Teens need to be willingto trust and open up more to their parents. Teensneed adults to be there for them. If adults take thetime to understand and listen to them, teen depressionmay cease to be a killer.Fortunately, teen depression can be treated,and there are many things concerned parents,teachers, and friends can do. Suicide amongteens often occurs following a stressful eventthat parents may not even know about. So it’simportant for them to know the warning signs,so kids who might be suicidal can get the helpthey need. A depressed teen might: Talk about “going away” Talk about feeling hopeless or guilty Pull away from friends or family Lose the desire to take part infavorite activities Have trouble concentrating orthinking clearly Experience changes in eatingAFH photo by Jesse Racusen
Alot of teens in Boston are sexually active, and differentSTDs (sexually transmitted diseases), such as chlamydiaand HPV, are common in Dorchester. African-Americanteens are the most commonly infected by these diseases.Due to the rates of sexual intercourse between male and femaleteens, these diseases are more likely to be spread than other diseases,such as HIV/AIDS.To bring teens together in a community and decrease the spreadof STDs, community health centers should have mandatory monthlySTD testing for patients between the ages of 13-20. This will decreasethe spread of STDs and increase good health in young people.Luckily, many centers do offer STD testing, as listed below.I am a teen in Dorchester, and I don’t want to be scared of fallingin love or being affectionate. That is why I am promoting safe sexand healthy sex. Many teens hear about celibacy, abstinence, condoms,and waiting until marriage, or even telling their partner to gettested. However, how many teens really do so? Being in a communitywhere sexually active teens have to take mandatory STD testswill keep teens safer and less afraid of experiencing this part of life.Bowdoin Street Health Center 617-754-0100Boston Medical Center 617-638-8000Boston Medical Center Health Connection: RoxburyComprehensive 617-442-7400Codman Square Health Center 617-825-9660Dimock Community Health Center: Administration 617-442-8800Dorchester House Multi-service Center 617-288-3230Neponset Health Center 617-282-3200Tufts-New England Medical Center 617-636-5000.South End Community Health Center 617-425-2000Uphams Corner Health Center 617-287-8000 By Eubelin Ruiz // Staff WriterHer self esteem is way lower than othersshe sees all the beauty around her and throws herself in the dumpsshe’s weak and crashesno one can help her with the deep feelings insideIt’s hard for her to show her pain to anyone at allshe smiles and hides her inner self but deeply she’s filled with hateand just wants to break downDays locked in her room wishing for life to change.What can she do? Where is the sanity in life?AFH photo by Darren Hicks
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=bWceh_p_d] j[[d fh[]dWdYo - Teens in Print

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